4 The Lord gave me this message: 5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” 6 “O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!” 7 The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. 8 And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!” 9 Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said, “Look, I have put my words in your mouth! 10 Today I appoint you to stand up against nations and kingdoms. Some you must uproot and tear down, destroy and overthrow. Others you must build up and plant.”          Jeremiah 1:4–10

GOD KNOWS YOU INTIMATELY BEFORE YOU EVEN EXIST

I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb…       Jeremiah 1:5a

 13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. 15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.           Psalm 139:13-16

GOD SETS YOU APART FOR A UNIQUE PURPOSE

Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.        Jeremiah 1:5b

GOD EQUIPS THOSE HE CALLS, EVEN IN OUR WEAKNESS

6 “O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!” 7 The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. 8 And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!” 9 Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said, “Look, I have put my words in your mouth! 10 Today I appoint you to stand up against nations and kingdoms. Some you must uproot and tear down,destroy and overthrow. Others you must build up and plant.”                 Jeremiah 1:6–10

7 The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. 8 And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!”        Jeremiah 1:7-8

God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.             1 Corinthians 1:27

9 Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth!       Jeremiah 1:9

10 Today I appoint you to stand up against nations and kingdoms.Some you must uproot and tear down, destroy and overthrow. Others you must build up and plant.       Jeremiah 1:10

REFLECTION QUESTIONS FOR THIS WEEK: 

1. How does knowing that God knew you before you were born change how you view your life and purpose?2. What unique purpose do you sense God has set you apart for?3. What fears or doubts are holding you back from stepping into God’s call, and how can you rely more on His presence?